William germer



(No Model.)

W. GERMER. DAMPER MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. No. 593,204. Patented Nov. 9, 1897.

7 v 5 5 M m WITNESSIS, INVENTOR W QMM Unirnn Srn'rns PATENT @rrrcn.

WILLIAM GERMER, OF HOBOKEN, NEXV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF vTO ROBERT GENSITZ, OF SAME PLACE.

DAM PER Ehl streamers FUR MUSECAL .lNSTRUWlEltTS.

SPEGIFICATIGN forming part of Letters Patent No. 593,20; dated November 9, 1897.

Application filed June '7, 1897. Serial No. 639,678. 1N0 model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM GERMER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at 110' .cal instruments, and particularly to what are known as dampers for the reeds or tongues of the reed-plates, and means for operating the same; and the object of the invention is to provide an improved damper of this class and means for operating the same so as to control the vibrations of the reeds or tongues of the reed-plates.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which- Figure l is a sectional side view of the damper mechanism constructed according to my invention and showing part of the notesheet; Fig. 2, a plan View of a part thereof with the note-sheet removed; Fig. 3, a front View of one of the dampers which I employ; Fig. 4, a side view thereof, and Fig. 5 a front view of the other damper.

In the drawings forming part of this specification the separate parts of myimprovement are designated by the same numerals of reference in each of the views, and in said drawings, reference being made to Fig. 1, I have shown at 5 a base-plate or support with which the damper mechanism of a mechanical musical instrument is connected, and at 6 and 7 the reed-plates, which are mounted on transverse bearings or blocks 8, which are secured to said plate or support 5. The reed-plate 7 is what is known as the upper plate and is provided with the usual tongues or reeds 9, and the reed-plate 6 is what is known as a lower reed-plate and is provided with the usual reeds or tongues 10. The plate or support 5 is also provided near the center thereof with two transverse slots or openings 11 and 12, and secured between the central portion of said plate or support 5 are transverse bars 13 and 14, and I have also shown at 15 one of the upper dampers and at 16 one of the lower dampers, and said dampers are secured to the bars 13 and 14 in any desired manner.

Mounted centrally of the base-plate or support and at a predetermined distance above the same and supported by standards 17 is a shaft 18, on which are mounted a plurality of striker-wheels 19, which equal in number the reeds or tongues on the reed-plates 6 and 7; and these striker-wheels are provided with teeth or projections 20, and said strikerwheels are adapted to be turned in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1 by clownwardly-directed lugs or projections 21, formed on the note-sheet 22, said lugs or projections 21 being adapted to operate in connection with the teeth or projections 20 on said strikerwheel.

In my improvement the reeds or tongues 9 and are provided at their free ends with longitudinal recesses 23, which are preferably formed on the opposite side of the adjacent ends thereof, and by means of these recesses extensions 23 are formed and also shoulders or projections 24.

The dampers consist of springmetal strips which are secured to the bar 14; and which extend upward and are provided at their upper ends with projections 25,which eX- tend through the longitudinal recesses 23, and by means of the extensions 25 shoulders 26 are formed on said dampers, and each of these dampers is also provided just below the shoul ders 26 with a baclnvardly-directed loop or bend 27, and as the striker-wheels 19 are turned one of the teeth or projections strikes the end of the adjacent reed or tongue 9 and throws the same upwardly, causing it to vibrate, as will be readily understood, and the second succeeding tooth or projection strikes the backwardly-direeted loop or bend 27 and throws the damper outward until the upwardly-directed extension thereof strikes the shoulder or projection 24; on said reed or tongue, so as to limit the vibration thereof. The opposite or lower damper 16 is provided with a baekwardly-directed angular projection 28, at the upper end of which is a downwardly-directed arm 29, and at the point where the upper portion of the baekwardlydirected extension 28 and the arm 29 connect is a tranverse projection 30, which is circular in crosssection, and as the striker-wheel adjacent to one of said dampers is turned, as described, one of the teeth or projections 90 thereon strikes the free end of the corresponding reed or tongue it) and depresses the same and causes it to vibrate, while the next sueccssive tooth or projection strikes the transverse projection 30 and forces the damper outwardly until the arm 29 strikes the projection 24: on said reed or tongue As shown in the drawings, the upper portion of the damper it passes upward through the corresponding longitudinal notches 93 in the tongues 10, and by means of this construction I secure for each of the dampers a positive action and one whereby the vibration of the tongues or reeds ill be controlled at all times.

It will be observed that the lateral projection 30 at the upper end of the damper 10 projects over the adjacent reed and is in vertical line therewith, tl 's construction being necessary in order that the successive teeth or projections on the striker-wheel may first strike and vibrate the reed or tongue and then the said lateral projection at the upper end of the damper.

My improvement is simple in construction and operation and is perfectly adapted to aceomplish the result for which it is intended, and it will be apparent that changes in and modifications of the construction herein de scribed may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages.

Having fully described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. Inamusical instrument, a vibratory reed having at its free end an extension whereby a shoulder or projection is formed, a shaft mounted adjacent to the free end of said reed and above the same, a striker-wheel mounted on said shaft and provided with teeth or projections, a spring-damper which is supported beneath the free end of said reed, and which projects upward adjacent to said extension, said damper being provided with an outward ly and downwardly directed arm which is adapted to strike said shoulderor projection, and at the upper end thereof with a lateral extension which in the normal position of the parts is above the free end of the reed or tongue and projects thereover, said reed beingadapted to be vibrated by one of the teeth or projections on said wheel, and the said lateral projection on the damper being ada pied. to be struck by the next succeeding tooth or pro jection, substantially as shown and dcscrilnal.

2. In a damper mechanism for musical in struments, a shaft, striker-wheels mounted thereon, and. provided with teeth or projcctions, reed-plates mounted adjacent to each side of said shaft, and provided with reeds or tongues which project'inthedireetionthereof, the tongues or reeds on one of said plateshcing directed over said shaft, and on the other beneath said shaft, and each of said tongues or reeds being provided at its free end with an extension whereby a shoulder or projection is formed, dan'ipers for the upper reeds or tongues which are supported below said shaft, and which project upward adjacent to said wheels, said dampers being also provided at their upper ends with extensions, and with. loops or bends which project in the direction of said wheels, and spring-dam mrs for the lower reeds or tongues which are supported below said shaft, and which project upward adjacent to the extensions of said. reeds or tongues, said dampers being provided at their upper ends with lateral projections which extend over the extensions of said reeds or tongues, and with downwardly and on twa rd ly directed arms which are adapted to strike the shoulders formed thereon, substantially as shown and described.

A spring-damper for musicalinstruuunils comprising a spring-standard, an oulavardly and downwardly directed arm su niorl'cd thereby and a laterally-extending project ion presenting upwardly a curved surface, sub' stantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention l: have signed my name, in pres ence of the subsmibing witnesses, this 7th day June, 1897.

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